Yael Rubinstein, Israeli Ambassador to Cambodia, on a brief visit to discuss helping to improve medical care in rural areas.

O

n a brief visit to Phnom Penh, Yael Rubinstein, the Israeli Ambassador to Thailand

and Cambodia, met with top government health officials on November 30 to discuss

ways of improving medical treatment in Cambodia, particularly in rural areas.

"The minister inquired if we could donate two or three of our ambulances as

they have a great need for them in the rural areas," Rubinstein said. "We

recently upgraded our army's four-wheel drive medical trucks, so we hope to donate

some of our fully equipped second-hand vehicles that are still in good working order."

Providing Israeli volunteers for medical training in rural provinces was also discussed.

The ambassador expressed her hope that the high rate of mortality during labor for

rural women could be reduced by the proposed medical training courses.

"In Israel we have the expertise - our resources are among the highest in the

world," said Rubinstein. "I believe in working together. With our knowledge

and Cambodia's abilities we can provide help in these areas."

According to Rubinstein, plans for a mobile health center able to visit rural villages

are also under way.

The ambassador was accompanied by consul Dvir Yaacov and surgical expert Dr Yitzchak

Ramon.

Ramon will remain in Phnom Penh for ten days to assist Dr Reid Sheftall at the American

Medical Center. He's scheduled to train local staff in burn reconstruction and perform

surgeries on Cambodian burn victims.

"I first read about the work of Dr Reid in the Phnom Penh Post," Rubinstein

said. "So I recommended to the [Israeli] Ministry of Health that they send a

surgeon to help."

The ministry contacted Ramon who has been a surgeon in Israel for over 15 years and

has volunteered on two occasions in the Philippines.

During their stay the group also made time to visit Jeanene's Children's Association

orphanage in Toul Kork to deliver donations of clothes, toys, bedding and eight computers

that will enable computer training lessons for the children.

The donations came from Israeli nationals living in or visiting Thailand over the

past few months. Ventura Nir, the Israeli embassy computer technician for Southeast

Asia, spent his visit setting up the computers and the goods were distributed to

the children by the ambassador and her colleges.

"I am very happy... I have earrings, clothes, a pillow... I am very happy,"

said Sophal Nob, a young girl living at the orphanage. "I like them so much!"

"We were told about the children on our visit in May so we came to meet them

and we fell in love," Rubinstein said. "We have decided to adopt them."

Through a translater Rubinstein told the children, "We're going to continue

coming as often as we can."